Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Donation to Cancer Center Patients
Gracious community members are warming hearts this holiday season at the Prairie Lakes Cancer Center. Gift bags for patients sit under the tree thanks to the Pink Ladies Dart League. The group donated gift bags containing items to comfort patients; including snacks, lotion, manicure sets, warm socks, water, word finds, hand sanitizer, journal and pen, and more. The Pink Ladies are uplifting spirits of cancer patients this holiday season as a part of their mission to make a difference in the community.
Since their establishment in Watertown August, 2015 the Pink Ladies have raised funds for local cancer patients. In addition to their annual holiday donation of gift bags to patients at the Prairie Lakes Cancer Center and the Brown Clinic Infusion Center, they have given monetary donations and blankets to 50 cancer patients in the Watertown region.
About Pink Ladies Dart League: The Watertown Pink Ladies Dart League is an all women's dart league. They are a non-profit organization whose main goal is to raise money to help local cancer patients (men, women & children). The first Pink Ladies Dart League was started in Yankton, SD in 2010. Watertown joined the league in August, 2015. The group uses paybacks from the dart league and funds from tournaments, raffles, and other fundraising to support local cancer patients. The Pink Ladies motto is "No One Fights Alone"!
Pink Ladies Dart League members pictured with Prairie Lakes Cancer Center staff (left to right): Jennifer Pletan (Prairie Lakes Cancer Center Director), Marsha Ringler, Shauna VanDusseldorp (Prairie Lakes Cancer Center Social Worker), Deb Miller, and Heather Walsh.
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Monday, December 02, 2019
Prairie Lakes Welcomes Dietitian, Megan Block
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System welcomes Megan Block, Clinical Dietitian to Prairie Lakes Nutritional Services and Sodexo team. Block will assess and work with patients in the hospital and can also accept appointments for one on one or group sessions.
As a clinical dietitian, Block helps patients with a wide variety of goals. Her special interests include building a connection with inpatients, discussing patients’ recent changes in appetite and weight gain/loss, and assisting patients at the Cancer Center. Block graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences and Master’s in Nutrition and Exercise Sciences degree from South Dakota State University.
“The most rewarding part of my work is being able to build a relationship with patients,” said Block. “I enjoy helping individuals meet their nutrition goals through education for specific diagnoses (heart failure, diabetes, malnutrition, wounds), but most of all I enjoy encouraging patients; I assure them that they are capable of making positive changes for their health and that even as a professional I am not perfect either!”
Individuals may receive counseling from Block during their stay at the hospital or by appointment on a variety of topics; including, weight management and diets for health conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Appointments are available by calling 605-882-7874.
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Thursday, November 21, 2019
National Recognition for Performance Leadership
As part of National Rural Health Day, November 21, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is recognized by The Chartis Center of Rural Health and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) for overall excellence in quality healthcare performance. This recognition is based on the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX from iVantage Health Analytics; the Performance Leadership Awards reflect top quartile performance among all rural hospitals in the United States.
“This award recognizes the quality of the services we provide to this region and the amazing group of people who work at Prairie Lakes; they demonstrate commitment to our healthcare mission through their care of every patient,” said K.C. DeBoer, President and CEO of PLHS.
The Hospital Strength INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging data from publicly available data sources, the INDEX aggregates data from 50 rural-relevant metrics across eight pillars of performance. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2020, the INDEX serves as the data foundation for a number of industry-leading rural recognition programs and legislative initiatives.
“National Rural Health Day has come to symbolize not just the vital role healthcare providers play in rural communities, but the dedication and hard work that goes into overcoming the unique healthcare challenges that exist across rural America,” said Teryl Eisinger, Chief Executive Officer, NOSORH. “We are proud of the work of the State Offices of Rural Health, their partners and rural hospitals do to improve care across the nation.”
“Each year, National Rural Health Day serves as a terrific backdrop for celebrating the power of rural and recognizing rural providers who continue to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to delivering quality care within their communities,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We are delighted to be recognizing these top quartile performers in partnership with NOSORH.”
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Wednesday, November 06, 2019
Prairie Lakes Names New Director of HR
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) is pleased to announce the new Director of Human Resources, Alison Gilbertson.
Gilbertson holds a Bachelors of Science Degree and a Masters of Science Degree in Health Administrative Studies. She has twenty seven years of healthcare experience; including four years as a nursing home administrator. Gilbertson has served the last seven years of her career as Executive Director of the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation; and will assist Prairie Lakes through the transition and hiring her replacement. She is active in multiple organizations, including Watertown Rotary.
Gilbertson and her husband Steve were both born and raised in the area and currently reside near Badger, SD. She enjoys spending time with her family, cheering for her husband and the teams he coaches, adventuring to Disney, and volunteering at her church.
“I look forward to moving into the new Human Resources Director position to help Prairie Lakes create a culture of valuing, encouraging, and supporting our workforce,” said Gilbertson. “I leave my position at the Foundation being very grateful for the rewarding experiences, training, and relationships made. It is my goal that in this new HR position, we will recruit and retain a high performing workforce and foster a healthy, safe, and productive work environment for staff through partnerships and collaborations.”
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Monday, October 07, 2019
Girl Scouts Donate to Cancer Patients
Girl Scout Troop 40033 worked hard on their Bronze Award Project, to donate kits to patients at Prairie Lakes Cancer Center.
The Girl Scouts came up with the idea on their own when asked how they could give back to their community. They made posters to raise money to buy the supplies for the kits and donated money they had made selling nuts and cookies to make the blankets. They had enough money to put together 24 kits and 15 blankets! The kits consist of a variety of items including: Fuzzy socks, a Hat, Water bottle, Journal, Cross word puzzle book, Pens, Kleenex, Lemon drops, Lotion, Hand sanitizer and Chap stick.
Front row: Lily Shanholts, Arianna Bemis, Emma Wientjes. Back row: Nora Haughian (Cancer Center), Shauna VanDusseldorp (Cancer Center), Kaitlyn McBride, Kaylee Iverson, Christina Jongbloed, Alexa Tysdal, Tessa Danek, Taryn Koehn, Lori Kasuske (Cancer Center), and Jennifer Pletan (Cancer Center Director).
Missing: Anna Hirtz and Evelyn Schulz
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Tuesday, October 01, 2019
Top Performing Hospital for Heart Attack Treatment Featured
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is one of only 86 hospitals nationwide to receive the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Silver Performance Achievement Award for 2019. The award recognizes Prairie Lakes’ success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients.
The Performance Achievement Award signifies the commitment of physicians, staff, and emergency responders; together we have reached an aggressive goal of treating heart attack patients to a level of care outlined by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association.
The Center for Disease Control estimates over 700,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.
Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.
To receive the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Silver Performance Achievement Award, Prairie Lakes demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry for four consecutive quarters and performed at the top level of standards for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.
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Monday, August 26, 2019
Speech Language Pathologist Joins PLHS
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System welcomes Speech Language Pathologist, Shelly Holida to the Rehabilitation Services department. She serves outpatient, inpatient, and home health patients.
Shelly received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders and her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology at the University of South Dakota. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, completing home remodeling projects, going for walks, camping, grilling, kayaking, scuba diving, and dog training.
"I am pleased to be a part of Prairie Lakes Rehabilitation Services and look forward to helping our community,” said Shelly. “I grew up in this area. I went to Hamlin High School and lived in Watertown for several years after graduating high school. After nearly 15 years, I am excited to move back to Watertown. I have been working as a Speech Language Pathologist for nearly 10 years and am specialized in working with adults with a wide array of needs in Speech Language Pathology.”
Speech Therapy treats disorders that affect speech, language, voice, cognition, and dysphagia (swallowing/chewing difficulties). For more information call Prairie Lakes Rehabilitation Services at 605-882-7700.
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Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Feuerstein Series to Feature R.J. Palacio - Postponed
Event Postponed - new date to be announced:
The 20th Annual Feuerstein Speaker Series featuring RJ Palacio scheduled for Tuesday, October 15 at Lake Area Tech is postponed due the speaker’s unexpected medical emergency. The event will be rescheduled to a later date and all tickets will be honored at that time. For questions, please contact the Lake Area Tech Foundation Office at 605-882-5284 ext 292 or the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation Office at 605-882-7631.
The Lake Area Technical Institute Foundation and the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation are excited to jointly host the 2019 Feuerstein Series event and celebrate its 20 year anniversary. The featured presenter/lecturer will be the inspiring author, graphic designer, artist and speaker R.J. Palacio. Palacio took the children’s literature world by storm with the publication of her debut novel, Wonder, a #1 New York Times best seller that has sold over 1 million copies in North American. The Feuerstein Series event will take place on Tuesday, October 15 at the Student Center at Lake Area Technical Institute, 1201 Arrow Avenue, Watertown, SD.
About the Speaker, R.J. Palacio
R.J. Palacio was an art director and graphic designer for more than 20 years, while waiting for the perfect time to start writing her own novel. When she had a chance encounter with an extraordinary child in front of an ice cream store, she realized the time had come to tell Auggie’s story through the well-known book Wonder.
In the spring of 2012, Wonder inspired a movement based on the importance of empathy and acceptance known as Choose Kind. Wonder has been the recipient of numerous starred reviews, awards and accolades. Wonder was adapted into a film starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay in 2017. Palacio travels the country speaking about the novel that has inspired countless children, educators and families. Those attending Palacio’s presentation, titled Choosing Kind/Wonder of Wonder, will leave determined to embrace the book’s theme of choosing kindness in their lives.
Palacio’s next book, the graphic novel White Bird, brings the world of Wonder to a new and thrilling format and is set to be released on October 1, 2019. This book is available for purchase through the Feuerstein event registration process.
Tickets
Early bird tickets are on sale from August 26 through October 4 for $45 each, or $35 each for a group of 10 or more (paid at the same time). If tickets remain after October 4, tickets will be $55 each with no group rates available.
Tickets will be available August 26 online or by calling the Lake Area Technical Institute Foundation at 882-5284, Ext. 292 or the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation at 882-7631. They will not be sold at the door the night of the event.
Questions
Contact the Lake Area Technical Institute Foundation at 605-882-5284, Ext. 292 or the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation at 605-882-7631.
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Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Hospital Hill Run Committee Makes Donations
Hospital Hill Run walkers and runners participated in the event to raise money for the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation’s Caring Club House and Watertown D.A.S.H.
The Caring Club House exists to meet the hospitality needs of out-of-town patients, families, and caregivers receiving services through Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. Funded and furnished completely through community support and donations, the Caring Club House is a not-for-profit, community-based project of the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation.
Watertown D.A.S.H. is an acronym for Drug Free, Alcohol Free, Safe and Healthy. The program empowers youth to choose healthy and positive lifestyles. The Watertown Police Department partners with others in the community to lead by example and raise the bar for youth to live safe and healthy lives.
The Hospital Hill Run committee proudly presented the Caring Club House a donation of $1,000 and Watertown D.A.S.H. a donation of $500.
Shown presenting the donations (above) are some members of the committee: Jenna Hulscher, Dr. Dan Reiffenberger, Tom Beaudry, and Jessi Eidson. Also pictured is Suellen Roby, Prairie Lakes Caring Club House Caretaker; and representing Watertown D.A.S.H.: Chief of Police Lee McPeek and Michelle Jensen.
Sponsors of the 2019 Hospital Hill Run include Brown Clinic; Prairie Lakes Healthcare System; Glacial Lakes Orthopaedics; Consulting Radiology Ltd.; Dr. Dan, Dr. Sarah, Molly, Megan and Nick Reiffenberger; Sanford Clinic – Watertown; Community Blood Bank; The Public Opinion; and Innovative Pain Clinic.
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Monday, July 29, 2019
Welcome Dr. Haque, Pathologist
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System welcomes Pathologist Farah Haque, MD. Dr. Haque will serve patients through her work in Prairie Lakes Laboratory. As a pathologist, Dr. Haque is trained to examine samples of body tissue for diagnosing conditions.
Dr. Haque is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology. She completed her residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Nassau University Medical Center in New York, and a fellowship in surgical pathology at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. She brings more than twelve years of pathology experience with trainings in GU and Breast pathology to Prairie Lakes Healthcare System.
"I am pleased to be a part of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System and look forward to helping our community through my service,” said Dr. Haque. “As a pathologist, I have the unique opportunity to work with physicians of every specialty, to deal with diseases of every organ system given a majority of medical decisions are based on lab results, I am eager to work with my colleagues to serve my community."
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Monday, July 15, 2019
Prairie Lakes Elects New Board Member
The Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Board of Directors elected officers and elected a new board member at its annual meeting in May.
Officers are Chairman, Jim Redlinger of Redlinger Bros. Plumbing & Heating; Vice President, Robb Peterson of Glacial Lakes Rubber & Plastics; Secretary, Shan Kruse of Peterson Motors; Treasurer, Vince Foley of Foley and Foley Law Office; and Past Chairman, Mark Roby. New board member, Mike Luken, was elected to serve a three year term.
A Watertown native, Luken has worked in a variety of jobs; including building and selling steel grain bins, realty, farming, and starting multiple businesses. He has been involved in the community through various memberships and contributions. Currently Luken is the Village of Northridge Condo Association Board Treasurer, Watertown Municipal Utilities Board President, and Northeast Realtor Association Board Member. On a state-wide level, Luken is a Revolving Economic Development and Initiative Fund Board Member and he serves on the State of South Dakota Economic Development Finance Authority.
In his spare time, Luken can be found in the stands of sporting events like basketball. Luken knows the importance of exceptional healthcare through his personal experiences with severe asthma and surgical procedures. He looks forward to serving the greater Watertown region through his Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Board of Directors membership.
“Prairie Lakes and its Board of Directors are committed to provide exceptional healthcare services to Watertown and the region. Mike will be a great addition to the board and will help lead Prairie Lakes into the future,” said K.C. DeBoer, President and CEO.
The Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Board of Directors is comprised of 14 volunteer community members who are dedicated to fulfilling the mission, vision and values of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, an independent, not-for-profit, regional healthcare center.
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Tuesday, July 02, 2019
Home Health Named a SHPBest “Superior Performer” Featured
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) is proud to announce Prairie Lakes Home Health has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall patient satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20% of all eligible SHP clients for the 2018 calendar year.
The annual SHPBest™ award program was created to acknowledge home health agencies that consistently provide high quality service to their patients. The 2018 award recipients were determined by reviewing and ranking the overall satisfaction score for more than 2,900 home health providers.
Prairie Lakes Home Health serves residents in Codington, Clark, Hamlin, Grant, Deuel, Day, and Roberts counties. Services include nursing care, therapy services, social services, and personal care.
“There are many benchmarks that measure the quality of the care and service that home health agencies provide, and one of the greatest honors is to be recognized for excelling in patient satisfaction”, said Julie Sampson, Home Health and Hospice Director. “ The Prairie Lakes Home Health staff is dedicated to caring for patients in the comfort and privacy of their homes. Their compassion and expertise make us one of the best in the nation; I am proud and grateful to work with this wonderful team.”
About Prairie Lakes Home Health
About Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP)
Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) is a leader in data analytics and benchmarking that drive daily clinical and operational decisions. Our solutions bring real-time data to post-acute providers, hospitals, and ACOs to better coordinate quality care and improve patient outcomes. Since 1996, SHP has helped more than 7,000 organizations nationwide raise the bar for healthcare performance.
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Thursday, June 20, 2019
Welcome Dr. Senne, Pulmonologist Featured
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System welcomes Pulmonologist, Svien Senne, DO. Dr. Svien Senne, lung and respiratory specialist, will see pulmonary patients at Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic.
Dr. Senne received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency training in internal medicine and a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is moving to Watertown with his wife Tressa and their two children. He enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.
“I am blessed to have the opportunity to return to South Dakota to be a part of a skilled and compassionate team of caregivers,” said Senne. “I look forward to providing high quality, compassionate care that focuses not only on the disease process, but also on my patients’ well-being."
Dr. Senne provides his expertise in respiratory diseases and pulmonary conditions such as.
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- COPD
- Cystic fibrosis
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Pneumonia
- Sleep apnea
- Tuberculosis
You may schedule an appointment by calling the Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic at 605-882-7777. A referral is not required to schedule an appointment.
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Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Prairie Lakes Names New Director of Marketing
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) is pleased to announce the new Director of Marketing, Jennifer Bender.
Bender holds an Associate’s Degree in Marketing, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, and is projected to receive her Master’s Degree in Public Health. She has eight years marketing and public relations experience, with five of those years in healthcare marketing at PLHS. Bender is active in multiple organizations, including BISCO (Business Industry School Coalition) as a member of the Board of Directors. A leader of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations, she is the past-president of the organization.
Bender currently resides in Watertown, SD with her husband, Skyler and their dog, Lizzy. In her spare time she enjoys outdoor and fitness activities, gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
“I have been witness to Prairie Lakes's great work and it makes me proud to continue my career here as the new Director of Marketing,” said Bender. “It’s an honor to be a part of this community and help others find and connect with the services they need. I look forward to collaborating with the leadership team and directing my team to keep our patients, community, and region as the focus of our endeavors.”
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